Short hops and hard knocks with Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne.

Friday full of former Red Sox

There were two compelling baseball games for fans across the country on Friday, and for a Red Sox fan, it probably felt like an alumni night.

There was Bronson Arroyo (Red Sox 2003-05) turning in a strong performance for the Reds in Game 2, only to get perhaps too early a hook from manager Dusty Baker and have his team lose when right fielder Jay Bruce lost a flyball in the lights. Arroyo continues to have a rock-solid career for the Reds, and you know that the trade for Wily Mo Pena is one that general manager Theo Epstein would surely like to have back.

After that, it was on to Braves-Giants, a game jam-packed with former Sox.

There was San Francisco’s Freddy Sanchez (Red Sox 2002-03), getting hit by a pitch and almost breaking his finger. Initial X-Rays were negative. Billy Wagner (Red Sox 2009) might not have been so lucky. The closer, who will retire after the season, appeared to tear his oblique muscle. At the very least, he seems certain to be out for the rest of this series.

But even without Wagner, the Braves won. Two of the relievers who came on for the Giants? Lefty specialist Javy Lopez (Red Sox 2006-09), who struck out the only batter he faced. Ramon Ramirez (Red Sox 2009-10) was not so lucky. He served up the game-winning homer of a classic game, struck by Rick Ankiel in the top of the 10th. Ramirez has always had good stuff, but the Red Sox never had full confidence in his ability with the game on the line, and last night was an example of why.

There were some other Sox in the game as well. Edgar Renteria (2005) dropped down a perfect bunt that would have led to a game-winning rally in the ninth if not for a squander by the Giants. Renteria also made a tremendous play at shortstop. And Eric Hinske (Red Sox 2006-07, a good-luck charm for teams trying to get to the World Series (he’s been on World Series teams the last three years) made a pinch-hitting appearance and went 0-for-1.

Earlier this week, we had Atlanta’s Derek Lowe (Red Sox 1998-2004) pitching a terrific game but coming up on the wrong end of a 1-0 duel with Tim Lincecum. And there was also the sad story of Rocco Baldelli (Red Sox 2009) who made the Rays postseason roster against all odds, only to have to come off the roster the very next day due to a setback of his condition that causes excessive muscle fatigue.

So the Red Sox are out of the postseason for the first time since 2006, but there are a lot of former Boston players you can follow.

David Murphy (Red Sox 2006-07) will be one of those players as he makes his first career postseason start today, starting for the Rangers in Game 3 against the Rays.

I do feel sorry for Bobby Cox but at the same time he did what most teams couldn’t do which was to make the playoffs in the first place and I’m happy he got that opportunity. It’s too bad he couldn’t go all the way.
Cliff Lee will be in pinstripes come spring. Only the Yankees can dump money on any player they want. I’m sure they’ll be eyeing Papelbon and Ellsbury as well to replace their aging team and I guarantee that Beltre will be wearing pinstripes as well.

Ya, I too am sad for Rocco. I hope he resurfaces but the Rays seemed to indicate that they will take him back in whatever form.
For so beatable the Rays and Yankees were, they were on fire. Glad to see Texas in the playoffs. I hope they kick the Yankees #$#$ #$#$. That’s all.

I also am disappointed for Bobby Cox that he did not get to the WS this year, in his final go-around as Braves mgr.– it would have been great (since we already were out of it) to see him go out on top. However, we should not forget that he was not always the bridesmaid. He was the skipper of the 1995 WS championship Braves team, so he (and his team) was the “bride”–once. With the pitching staffs he had to work with, with Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine for so many of those years, it is amazing (and disappointing) that his Braves won the WS only that one time, esp. considering the 14 consecutive pennants his teams won. I always admired Bobby Cox (being down here in “Braves Country”, so-called), so I am disappointed for him. But, the Rays are out of the playoffs, so it is not all bad! ;)
GO SOX 2011!

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